Free Agent I1: Tristan [01] The D.I.R.E. Agency by Joni Hahn Page A

get married yesterday. What happened?”
    The wedding seemed ions ago instead of twenty-four hours. She’d learned so much about life and love in that short period of time.
    “That was before you humiliated me by showing up passed out drunk for the ceremony.”
    He held out his hands in front of him. “Rachel, you have to believe me. I don’t know what happened.”
    She shook her head. She had seen Cody filthy drunk on many occasions. Did he really expect her to think this incident differed in some way?
    “Honestly, I didn’t drink that much.” He took her hand in both of his. “But, I’m here now. I still want to do this.”
    With Cody’s sweaty, meaty hands swallowing hers, Rachel suddenly felt someone touch her back. Swinging around, she saw nothing.
    Gritting her teeth, Rachel shook her head. She should’ve known he wouldn’t allow her to talk to Cody alone. Tristan had come inside after all.
    “Cody, you had your chance yesterday. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
    Tristan rubbed her back, his movements light, soothing as he stroked her from neck to waist. His touch clouded her mind, eliciting a torrent of memories from last night.
    What was he doing?
    Her mind fought for focus. Her body wanted more of Tristan and his touch.
    “Is it him?”
    Rachel couldn’t think straight with Tristan’s hands on her. “Who?”
    Tristan slid his hands around her waist from behind. Rachel caught a moan in her throat. Was he really seducing her here and now?
    “That SEAL waiting outside. Were you cheating on me with him?”
    She felt Tristan’s lips, soft and light against her nape. She tilted her head before she caught herself and straightened.
    Oh, he would pay .
    “Cheating on you? That’s rich, coming from you, Co - ” Tristan cupped her breasts in both hands. Rachel nearly jumped through the roof.
    Oh…my… gosh . Had he lost his mind?
    Of its own volition, her body leaned back against Tristan’s tall, lean frame. How did he expect her to hold a conversation when he could so easily reduce her to a pile of mush?
    A moan escaped. He placed an open mouth kiss against the side of her neck.
    Cody gave her a fierce frown. “What the hell’s the matter with you?”
    Tristan’s ministrations stopped. Her body cried in protest.
    “From what I hear, you’ve been with a different woman every weekend since we’ve been engaged. Your ‘poor me’ card isn’t going to work here.”
    Cody’s hand shot out to grab her. It stopped mid-air, quivering. She felt Tristan at her shoulder, his arm extended by her cheek.
    Cody’s eyes bugged out.
    Oh no .
    Rachel pushed against Cody’s chest. He stumbled backwards. “Cody, take the ring and go. We’re done.”
    For long moments, he stared at her with eyes like softballs. “No, Rachel. Don’t say that. I want this.”
    “That makes one of us.”
    She felt Tristan squeeze her waist.
    “You and I both know that without my money, you’ll never pay off your father’s medical bills.” Lowering his voice, he moved closer. “Look, I realize you don’t love me like I…” He cleared his throat. “…love you but, I know in time you’ll come around.”
    That was the first time she’d ever heard the L-word come out of Cody’s mouth. When Cody first asked her out on a date, Rachel had been shocked. Cody had always gone for the more adventurous girls in town and after what had happened with Zach, Rachel had been pegged as a couch potato.
    Nevertheless, her mother had been ecstatic, and it had pleased Rachel to see Kate smiling again. After all her mother had been through, she’d wanted to give it to her.
    “Cody…” Rachel held out her hands to her sides. “We both know this marriage would never work.”
    His brows furrowed. “No, I don’t know that.”
    A tiny voice in Rachel’s head told her Cody could still answer her prayers. Her mother could quit her job at the county offices and the diner. An easy fix stood right in front of her.
    However, Tristan’s hand